Question

Why were more British troops sent to Boston in May, 1774?

a.) to monitor the actions of the first continental congress
b.) to impose law and order and enforce the coercive acts
c.) to punish the rebellious colonists in lexington and concord
d.) to stockpile gunpowder and munitions around the new england countryside

Answer 1

British troops were sent to Boston in May 1774 mainly to enforce the Coercive Acts and restore order after the Boston Tea Party, an act that added to colonial tensions leading up to the American Revolution.

Step-by-step explanation:

The British troops were sent to Boston in May 1774 primarily to impose law and order and enforce the Coercive Acts, a series of punitive measures meant to clamp down on the dissent and unrest following the Boston Tea Party. More British troops arrived as tensions escalated due to the militancy of colonial actions and the perceived need by the British to display a show of force, ensuring compliance with the new laws, which were seen by many colonists as an overreach of power and direct assault on their liberties.Furthermore, General Gage, the British military commander in Massachusetts, ordered periodic raids on towns to confiscate weapons and munitions (d) and to disarm the colonial militias.

This was part of the British strategy to maintain control and prevent the colonists from organizing armed resistance against British rule.Following the Boston Tea Party, British Parliament passed the Coercive Acts to punish Massachusetts and as a way to demonstrate authority. The presence of troops was meant to suppress resistance, to ensure the colonies adhered to the new regulations, and to deal with the increasing unrest. This deployment preceded the outbreak of hostilities, which began with the battles of Lexington and Concord, marking the start of the American Revolutionary War.